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Original poster

Were children ever allowed in scans?

163 replies

Chocoqueen · 28/02/2021 15:57

I'm currently expecting my first baby, and all the appointment letters I've had say no children in scan. Obviously this isn't a problem, and I get the reasons but I was wondering if that's always been the case? I distinctly remember going to one of my mum's scans when she was pregnant with my youngest sibling in the mid-90's, I'd have been about 6 or 7, and my other sibling a year younger. Childcare wouldn't have been an issue as my dad was in the scan as well and my grandparents all lived close by and babysat a lot so we could have gone to theirs if needed. Does anyone else remember doing this?

OP posts:

TheVanguardSix · 04/03/2021 16:07

I should add, I was allowed to bring kids to my antenatal appointments with the midwife, just not the scans. Tell a lie, I was able to bring my kids to the EPU scans when I had bleeding early on, but not the 12 week or 20 week scans.

Carriemac · 04/03/2021 16:13

My obstetrician friend was scanning a pregnant woman who had a problem with her pregnancy and the woman's parent stole my friends iPhone out of the pocket of her cardigan . Security refused to challenge him .

Carriemac · 04/03/2021 16:13

Woman's partner

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Families

JustNotFunAnymore · 04/03/2021 16:13

Dd1 came to mine with dd2. And they both came when I was having ds.

Imonlydoingwhatican · 04/03/2021 16:17

My children have always come into the scans, my son for my 2nd (obviously) pregnancy in 2009 and then she came in on my last pregnancy 2017 (my son was bothered at that point)

BiBabbles · 04/03/2021 16:28

I brought in child(ren) for antenatal scans between 2006-2011. I recall, particularly with my youngest in 2011, my spouse was told that if there was any issue that he would have to remove them which is fair enough.

For me, my spouse coming wasn't a 'it's nice for dad to see'. It was for my medical needs. Pre-Covid, my area made a big thing about people's right to bring in support (they use chaperone, but I'm not a fan of the word) and the benefits of it if you have additional mobility needs, communication needs, medical anxiety, and so on. They now offer this support from other HCPs if requested at least in some departments (not sure about antenatal) which, while not beneficial to me, helps some.

Embroideredstars · 04/03/2021 17:01

Scans are for a check on the health of the baby. The sonographer needs to concentrate.

Occasionally bad news or complex news about a condition has to be given. This is not ideal for anyone involved if children are in the room.

ememem84 · 04/03/2021 17:07

Interesting. I have vague memories of being in a scan room
With dm when dsis was being expected...

I would have been 3. So in 1987/8

Our hospital has a very strict no kids in scan rooms and staff will not look after the children so don’t even think about bringing them in policy.

JackieTheFart · 04/03/2021 17:09

Older kids had to come when I had my scans for my third, there was nowhere else for them to go. That was about ten years ago.

Kittytheteapot · 04/03/2021 17:10

I took my children to scans. I had noone else to leave them with. The only exception was my 4th pregnancy when I had a few issues and had moved to an area where i made some friends. I think then they didnt come in with me. But 2nd and 3rd pregnancies they definitely did. That would have been 1997 and 1999.

Embroideredstars · 04/03/2021 17:17

For follow ups it isn't such an issue but imagine the first time going with a small child and saying they will see their new brother or sister and then there being no heartbeat or serious problem. That's distressing enough for the parents but for a child to hear/see that and their parents' distress is not a good thing.

Unfortunately there is a continuing move for the public to view scans as a family event, an opportunity to see/bond with the baby and find out the sex. An NHS scan is not for this purpose, it's a check on the baby and mum. A private scan at one of the many companies offering them for this purpose is the only appropriate place for other families members to see the baby.

Sonographers put up with a lot of abuse on this subject and have done for years but covid has made it a lot, lot worse. Understandably parents are frustrated not to be together in scans and social distancing is difficult in scan rooms but many people do not realise that the scan is a medical procedure not a nice way to meet your baby.

Popcornbetty · 04/03/2021 18:21

'For follow ups it isn't such an issue but imagine the first time going with a small child and saying they will see their new brother or sister and then there being no heartbeat or serious problem.'

I agree but our child was really small and we just said it was a scan and he didn't have a clue until thankfully after we knew all was okay. To be honest even after seeing the picture i dont think he had a clue until the baby was actually infront of him! If anything bad had have happened he may have seen we were upset but he would have also seen that at home if he hadn't have been there. If anything the upset at home would have been worse as me and dh tend to hold it in when in public when not as comfortable (just the way we are)

PrincessesRUs · 04/03/2021 19:14

2017 - no children allowed

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